Chapter 172: Loose Ties

Just outside a pair of crimson eyes awaited me. 

"What are you doing? And why are you dressed like that?" I flared.

Lianne was in her usual armor. She looked just like when I first met her. "Oh! Isn't it obvious? I'm coming with you!"

"Who is this lovely lady?" Dick said stuff but we ignored him.

I guess he never met Lianne.

"Really? Unfortunately, it wasn't all that obvious. Anyway, as I told you before I don't want anything to do with the elves. So begone!" Towards the end, my accent shifted and I got a little embarrassed. 

What the hell did I just say?

Lianne started giggling. The embarrassment intensified. "Anyway, it'd be better for you if an elf led you out of the forest. I'd only trouble you for a few days."

"I have no objection if that lovely lady joins us," Dick declared.

I sighed. According to the old man, it could take up to a month to travel around Alfeim if one didn't have an elf with them.

Think about it. One month of wasted time or traveling with an elf. 

The decision was simple enough. I had to accept her help. And if it was her, then it wasn't all that problematic. She was probably the only elf that I still somewhat trusted. But I kind of boasted a bit too much in front of Jowy, so this really felt odd. No embarrassing even. "Alright. And thanks…" I looked away. She was doing it for me and yet all I did was refuse her. 

She smiled in response and we left the palace. Dick was kind of jumping around in excitement. Well, that was a teenage boy for ya. I never did get to see the guard though. All in all, I was somewhat annoyed.

And then there was the problem of carrying three separate bags. The bags themselves weren't that big but they sure were packed. The stone and the pendant, along with some money, were in another small purse-like bag which I kept on my waist. It was actually a fashion choice for girls around here. But every step felt like I was taking my last. 

But as if the demon guy sensing my troubles took the three bags away from my back and just walked by me. I had both of my swords and the knife hanging by my waist, so it was all good: my normal sword and the knife were definitely attracting attention but surprisingly the mystic blade wasn't. Maybe it was because I was still using the geezer's rusty scabbard.

But really, this was helping me? Of course, I didn't trust him but my back did feel a lot lighter. And since the other two didn't really make a scene when this happened, I tried to stay calm about this too.

***

We walked around the capital and I had all sorts of eyes on me. I was walking with a literal princess by my side and still, people stared at me. I was feeling more and more self-conscious… 

"Umm Lianne?"

"Yes?"

I tried to make sense of stuff. It was normal for the people at the palace to be shocked. But what about the people outside? Did they know the empress' face as well? "How come I'm getting so many stares? I get it that you guys know my face but what about-"

"You see, every elf knew my mother apart from kids. So they are probably finding you a little shocking to fathom." My worst fear materialized. "Besides, mother always did like her occasional sneak-outs." Lianne giggled. 

I really was famous. But the empress occasionally used to sneak out? Well, that was news. The bad kind, for me.

"I wouldn't call it shock. It's more like they're worshipping him." The demon with us spoke after a long while. 

He had covered his horns with a large hat. He looked like an overgrown man on steroids. I'd say he was human-ish. His deep voice left a deep impression in my head.

"Never thought I'd hear you say anything…." I said. "But thanks for the bags."

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He didn't reply but nodded. The guy was really quiet. The same couldn't be said about his companion though. Dick was literally hyperactive around the two of us, like a dick. He was jumping around, making weird jokes, and flashing all sorts of smiles. We flat-out ignored him.

"But I think it would have been better for me to travel as a guy instead." I felt more and more self-conscious by the minute.

"Actually, we'd have to kill you in that case. The people take crime very seriously in Alfeim." Lianne said it nonchalantly and with a smile.  I controlled my twitching eyes and we kept walking. I tried to conjure up a smile in response but failed miserably.

Lianne scary… Lianne scary….

My body didn't hurt as much and I didn't get tired either. I guess the pain from yesterday was just placebo, or it could have been because I had to drink nothing more than just potions for a month too. The mere thought that sent shivers down my spine. 

And thanks to staying nearly dead for a month, it gave me a bad case of constipation. I really wanted to die at this point.

Ever since the incident in the forest, Biteria had become awfully quiet. She didn't purr much nor caused any trouble for me. At least not as much she used to.  Maybe it was because they didn't feed her meat for a month. Did she turn soft after transforming into a vegetarian? 

In that case, I won't feed you meat anytime soon. 

"Ah, my cuddly little bunny-wunny." I poked her with a finger. She was on my shoulder. It didn't even take her a second to make a firm bite. Pain shot through my finger like a missile. My face twisted. I barely controlled my scream. The damn thing had grown teeth. I might have been a little mistaken…

No meat for you…EVER!

***

It took about two hours before we got to the edge of the town. There were guards here. They recognized Lianne and me. They even bowed to me. It felt weirder and weirder. 

I did meet that guard though, the one who gave me this dress.

"Hey, I didn't catch your name."

He gave a gentle bow and then looked at me with wondrous eyes. "It is Humpere, my lady."

"Didn't I tell you to call me Daarc? No need to be so formal. And I think I owe you forty silvers." I searched the bag and before I could take out the money, Humpere stopped me.

"That won't be necessary. I was the personal guard of Lady Anasia. Just seeing you again is payment enough for me. And I could never call you by your name. I couldn't bring myself to. I-I know you're not her and yet I can't bring myself to not respect you like her…." His voice declared sincerity. I couldn't help but have some respect for the guy.

No wonder he had so much respect for me.

"Alright. Thank you Humpere. Thank you for everything." I smiled. I couldn't give money to the guy after what he just said. So I could only smile and leave without another word. "Let's go."

"Please take care," Humpere said.

I didn't look back. I didn't need to. It might have been a coincidence or maybe not. But I did like how I was treated by the people around me. I probably won't get that kind of respect for the rest of my life. I didn't deserve it either. But it sure felt good.

But as I walked out the city gates, my worst fears came crawling back. 

The forest was in front of us. The sun was in the middle of the sky. My new journey began by getting inside a forest yet again.

Awe man. Not again!

I wasn't alone and it was daytime, but I really didn't want to be around any forests, ever.

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